Vow renewal ceremonies have been around for a while, but only became popular in the 1970s. Now, in the U.S, they make up from 25 to 30% of all wedding ceremonies being booked. Some are elaborate and costly. TV star Rachel Ray and her husband treated their friends and family to a weekend in a Tuscan castle in Italy. Most couples renew their vows in a simpler setting, of course, but everyone seems to want to declare (often in the company of others) that their marriage is still working – even in a day of easy divorce – and they intend to remain faithful to one another, no matter what.

When I got married to Tony (some 55 years ago) I was only 20. What did I really know about how marriage works? I had no idea what lay ahead … the highs and lows, the testing of our commitment over the years when romance died and all we had to hang onto was the hope that things would improve. The love we thought we shared when we said “I do” deepened as kids were added and we learned what it means to become one flesh. Sometimes I wanted to quit, convinced I didn’t have what it takes. Tony likely did too, but fortunately, we never had those feelings at the same time!

In last month’s devotional we looked at what God remembers. This month I want to continue the theme of remembrance by highlighting another aspect of our relationship with Him. But this time, the spotlight will be on us. According to Scripture, what does God want us to remember?

God’s not just our Father. He’s also our husband. In Isaiah 54:5 the prophet reminds his people: “Your Maker is your husband, the Lord of hosts is his name.” They had pledged their loyalty to Him in the desert. They promised to obey Him for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health. They vowed to cling to Him alone, abandoning all other gods. But what was the reality from God’s perspective? “I cared for you in the wilderness, in the land of burning heat. When I fed them, they were satisfied; when they were satisfied, they became proud; then they forgot me” (Hosea 13:5-6).

Israel had a hard time remembering who they were and with whom they had a covenant relationship. Because they didn’t value their privileged position and did not spend the time with their spouse every marriage needs to thrive, they always returned to their old ways of sin. In Jeremiah 3:14 the Lord pleads with them: “Return, faithless people, for I am your husband.”    

Before they entered the Promised Land, Moses laid out the terms of their marriage contract and urged the people to always remember the most important fact of their life: They belonged to God. They were set apart from every other group in the world. God had pledged to care for them and bless them abundantly if they would love, honor, and obey Him. As His partner, they would not only be blessed but would be used to bless others around them.   

The steadfastness of God’s love for His covenant people is beautifully illustrated in the life of the prophet Hosea. Through his unfaithful wife, Hosea felt the pain of God’s broken heart. Here’s just a glimpse of the Lord’s profound disappointment. “She has not acknowledged that I was the one who gave her the grain, the new wine and oil, who lavished on her the silver and gold – which they used for Baal.” (Hosea 2:8)

Yet God still loved Israel. He would not bless her idolatrous ways or excuse her sin, but He would seek to win her back. He would not give up on their relationship. “I am now going to allure her; I will lead her into the desert and speak tenderly to her. … There she will respond as in the days of her youth, as in the day she came up out of Egypt. In that day” declares the Lord, “you will call me ‘my husband’; you will no longer call me ‘my master’. … I will betroth you to me forever; I will betroth you in righteousness and justice, in love and compassion. I will betroth you in faithfulness, and you will acknowledge the Lord.” (Hosea 2:14-16, 19-20).   

Under the New Covenant, our marital relationship with the Lord is through Jesus. Whether we are men or women, we are the bride of Christ, blessed even more than the Israelites because we have the indwelling Holy Spirit to help us love and obey Him wholeheartedly. We can rely on His unfailing love and enjoy His companionship no matter what’s raging around us. We can live like the bride described in Song of Songs 8:5: “Who is this coming up from the wilderness leaning on her beloved?”    

Like in any marriage, we face temptations that can draw us away. If we start to take Him for granted, we’ll grow resentful about our life of service. If we let other people/concerns become more important than spending time with Him, they’ll consume our energy and keep us from the one relationship that will enrich and bless our lives most.

In his book Run with the Horses Eugene Peterson writes: “The setting of priorities is not a once-and-for-all act. It has to be redone frequently. Balances shift. Circumstances change.  Moods swing. Is it still God, in fact, with whom I have first of all to do, or is it not? Prayer is the place where priorities are reestablished.” If we want our marriage to flourish, communication is key.

At critical times, Israel’s leaders led the people in a vow renewal ceremony, to remind them of their special relationship with God. In this turbulent time in history, recommitting ourselves might be a good idea for the bride of Christ as well. We can renew our vows in the privacy of our own hearts or in front of others. In whatever setting, here’s our declaration: No matter what the future brings, my relationship with Jesus is strong. I am trusting in His love and faithfulness and I re-pledge myself to be His faithful spouse.    

One day, at the end of time, we will sit down together with Jesus and feast at the marriage supper of the Lamb. By investing in our marriage today, we “make [ourselves] ready” (Revelation 19:7). We belong to Him eternally. This beautiful truth sustains us through any difficulty we face. By remembering our special place in the world, we will “sow righteousness” and “reap the fruit of unfailing love” (Hosea 10:12).